Oh, I can just see the panties of the moonbats bunching already! Bear in mind, this was just a letter to the editor, but what if the guy is right?

http://www.ohio.com/editorial/vop/40044002.html

Putting al-Qaida on the run
I have been privileged to work with the U.S. Army since 1987, and I have learned that military victory requires choosing the most favorable ground to face the enemy.

In 2002, the Bush administration and the Pentagon knew Afghanistan was not the right ground to fight al-Qaida to permanently cripple it. The terrorists could use hit-and-run tactics from mountain sanctuaries along the Pakistan border to outlast America's will to fight. The Russians had learned the hard way that that is not the right ground to face a large, well-armed and motivated enemy.

The American military needed a more favorable ground to take on al-Qaida. The Pentagon, with President Bush's approval, chose Iraq.

Iraq was ruled by a tyrannical dictator that no one but a fool would defend. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq offered al-Qaida no mountain sanctuary or anything remotely similar, and they were less familiar with the terrain. And, with the elimination of Saddam Hussein, al-Qaida had few reliable allies in Iraq.

After we ousted Hussein, al-Qaida took the bait and rushed to Iraq. Unfortunately, as with many wars, initial mistakes were made.
However, once Gen. David Petraeus took over, the American military systematically killed their fighters and their leaders. Even al-Qaida's early friends in Iraq began helping the American military.

The next phase of the war is now unfolding. In World War II, when we defeated the Germans in North Africa, they retreated to Italy and regrouped. After being defeated in Iraq, al-Qaida has largely retreated to Afghanistan/Pakistan to regroup.

President Obama seems to grasp that he has great opportunity, if he acts decisively. Compared to 2002, al-Qaida is a far less potent fighting force due to America's victory in Iraq. Instead of Afghanistan being an al-Qaida stronghold, Obama could make a last stand.

However, make no mistake, there is still much dangerous work to be done by the United States military. In Afghanistan, the mountainous terrain still favors even a crippled al-Qaida.
As more is revealed about the past seven years, Americans will appreciate President Bush as a man who resolutely put the security of America ahead of his own personal popularity.
At any time he could have shared the true rationale for his actions in Iraq. But by doing so, he would have also revealed our strategy to al-Qaida. President Bush chose to remain silent and accept the pain of ridicule rather than lose a war.
David McGrew
Akron